Leadership Habits to Boost Employee Morale and Productivity

Effective leaders understand that their actions and behaviors directly influence the motivation, engagement, and productivity of their team members. By consistently demonstrating good leadership habits, leaders can create a culture of excellence and high performance that fosters employee satisfaction, improves employee morale, and helps businesses succeed.

Often, low employee morale is a serious issue across organizations. And it transpires because of a host of reasons. Some of them include:

• Lack of growth opportunities
• Insufficient recognition
• Stressful culture
• Unstable leadership
• Poor communication
• Inadequate compensation and benefits

It’s the responsibility of a leader to address these issues through their day-to-day initiatives. For that, they must understand the “why(s)” of low employee morale and dwindling productivity. Often, there are signs that could suggest that. For example, high employee turnover, poor attendance patterns, increasing complaints and negative feedback, passive approach towards initiatives, etc., are all signs of low employee morale. 

How can a leader address such concerns and ensure that everyone’s on board with the organizational vision? In short, by developing certain habits that reflect that the leader “cares” and is “invested” in realizing a healthy culture. To that end, here are a few effective leadership habits that can have a positive impact on employees:

Being Transparent

Transparency builds trust and helps to create an open and honest workplace culture. Leaders who are transparent invite and facilitate candid conversations with employees, encourage feedback, and share information about organizational goals, challenges, and successes. 

In fact, when leaders are transparent, employees feel more confident in making decisions and taking action, knowing that they have access to all the information they need to make informed choices. This creates a more supportive and empowering work environment where employees feel valued and engaged.

Embracing Continuous Learning

Employees want to grow and develop their skills, and leaders who invest in learning and development opportunities create a culture of continuous improvement. Providing training, mentoring, and coaching can help employees feel more engaged and motivated. 

As per a recent analysis, around 76% of the employees affirm that they want to stay with their company if it invests in continuous training. This training can take many forms, such as workshops, seminars, online courses, or in-house training programs. By providing these opportunities, leaders demonstrate their commitment to their employees’ success and enable them to enhance their skill sets and stay up-to-date with the latest industry trends.

Nurturing a Constructive Feedback Loop

In 2021, Harvard Business Review cited a survey that examined 1,100 business studies published over the course of the last three decades. Interestingly, 95% of those studies outlined the negatives associated with ineffective communication and collaboration among team members. Such team differences can be alleviated with streamlined communication between leaders and teams.

Regular feedback is one of the ways that leaders can help employees understand their strengths and areas for improvement, leading to increased motivation and productivity. Leaders who provide constructive feedback in a supportive and non-judgmental way can create a culture of continuous learning and improvement. 

In addition to providing feedback, leaders should also encourage their employees to give feedback. By creating an environment where feedback is encouraged and valued, leaders can foster a culture of open communication and collaboration. Employees who feel comfortable giving feedback to their peers and managers are more likely to pursue constructive criticism and work together to solve problems.

Being Empathetic Toward Colleagues

Leaders who show empathy are more likely to build strong relationships with their employees. Empathetic leadership can improve their job satisfaction and such leadership is capable of nurturing high employee loyalty.

That’s because empathetic leaders are approachable and available, making it easier for employees to discuss issues and seek support. By taking the time to understand their employees’ perspectives, leaders can build trust and create a supportive and collaborative work environment.

Practicing and Perpetuating Work-Life Integration

Leaders who promote work-life integration can create a healthier and more balanced workplace culture. By encouraging employees to prioritize their health, family, and personal life, leaders exhibit that they recognize that employees have personal lives and professional obligations and how both of them are interconnected and critical for overall well-being.

Effective leaders have a habit of creating policies that could accommodate work-life integration. These could be associated with flexible working arrangements, flexible schedules, etc. They practice these themselves, outline the benefits to employees, and encourage them to prioritize self-care.

Pursuing Servant Leadership

Servant leadership prioritizes serving the needs of employees and empowering them to reach their full potential. Leaders who pursue servant leadership can create a more collaborative and supportive workplace culture. They empower their employees to take ownership of their work, giving them the autonomy and support they need to succeed. This leads to increased employee engagement, motivation, and productivity, as employees feel valued and supported in their work.

Rewarding the Good Work Providing Incentives 

Recognizing and rewarding employees for their commitment and contributions can increase motivation and engagement. A Glassdoor survey outlines how more than 50% of the employees would stay at their current jobs if they felt appreciated by their leaders.

Effective leaders understand that rewards and incentives should be tailored to each individual employee’s needs and preferences. Some employees may be motivated by financial incentives, while others may value opportunities for professional growth and development. When employees see their colleagues being recognized for their achievements, it can inspire them to work harder and strive for similar recognition.

So, leaders should make it a habit to recognize their teams’ achievements in public, as this will help employees feel valued and supported. This recognition can take many forms, including public praise and recognition, company-wide emails or electronic posters, or special celebrations or events.

That’s a wrap! In a nutshell, these are the few ways in which leaders can motivate and engage their employees. These methods can help create a collaborative and supportive workplace culture, where employees feel empowered to take ownership of their work and are encouraged to learn new skills.